Lilly regional conference to take place at ACU

For immediate release
March 20, 2003

The Twelfth Annual Lilly Regional Conference of Church-related Colleges and Universities will be held at Abilene Christian University March 21-22. The conference will focus on the topic "Why 'Racial and Ethnic Diversity?' Christian Higher Education and Multiculturalism."

The topic was chosen because it is an important issue to think about for church-related colleges and universities, according to Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, ACU provost.

"Our rationale for why we want diversity is different that that of state schools," said VanRheenen. "We wanted to look at the theological side of the issue and then see how it is played out practically."

The conference will feature guest speakers Jorge L.A. Garcia, internationally known philosopher and professor at Boston College; Todd Lake, dean of university ministries at Baylor University; Raye Lakey, associate director of the Adams Center for Teaching Excellence at ACU; and Adam Hester, chair of the Department of Theatre at ACU.

VanRheenen, who in the past has served on the board for the Lilly National Network of Church-related Colleges and Universities, said that the purpose of the conference is "to think philosophically and theologically about why we believe ethnic and cultural diversity is important."

While not all the colleges and universities involved in the conference come from similar religious backgrounds, VanRheenen said he sees a bond between the schools in their common interest for maintaining their religious roots while dealing with the challenges that church-related schools face.

"Our belief that diversity is important is tied to scripture and our belief that God created all people - that all people should have a chance to grow mentally and spiritually," VanRheenen said.